While honey bees might be cute, sweat bees can be annoying. Additionally, while they are not aggressive, they might sting when bothered, putting your kids and other family members under threat.
If you like to spend time outdoors, you might have already encountered them at least once in your life. If you have, you should remember how irritating they can be, especially since they won’t hesitate to sting you when you try to keep them away.
Their attractiveness to the smell of human sweat (its salty taste in particular) means they like to be around in the summer when the odor is more intense.
So, if you want to keep enjoying your outdoor spaces, you must learn to remove them. And if you want to know how to get rid of sweat bees around your pool, read on. You can find all the information you need in this essential guide!
Why Do Sweat Bees Linger Around Pools?
Sweat bees might stay around swimming pools because they will use their water to hydrate. Also, they love the chlorine and saltwater taste of most backyard pools, which attracts them to these bodies of water.
The chemicals you use to maintain your pool release scents that will attract plenty of sweat bees. Also, bees use the water in your pool as “air conditioning” in their shelters (or hives) to give a break to other members of the colony from the summer heat. So, they’ll stay around a pool when they see one.
And that’s not good news, since they might harm you and your family members. For this reason, taking proper action to get rid of them is crucial.
But how do you keep sweat bees away from your pool? Jump to the following sections to find out.
How to Keep Sweat Bees Away From Your Pool
To begin with, it might be worth remembering that sweat bees aren’t good swimmers. You can consider using jets to keep them at bay. As bees notice turbulent water, they will decide to stay away from the pool to avoid risking their lives.
Another method you can try is to add mothballs around your pool. Such a deterrent is effective in any part of your garden and isn’t limited to swimming pools. Indeed, the smell of mothballs will scare away sweat bees, who will decide to fly somewhere else instead.
Other methods to keep sweat bees away include using essential oils with strong fragrances. Citronella, lavender, thyme, and eucalyptus all work excellently. You can even consider planting them around your pool to increase your chances of success.
If you plan to eat by the side of your pool, don’t forget to cover your food and beverages when not consuming them. Use lids and containers to secure your food and prevent it from releasing smells that will attract bees.
Also, avoid using bright colors: colorful swimsuits, towels, and clothes might look like flowers to bees.
Finally, if you see some nests, contact your local service to remove them. Sweat bees like to find shelter under porches, in between fences, and around decks. Avoid getting rid of them yourself: it might be dangerous! Keep in mind that sweat bees are crucial pollinators that contribute to making your garden thrive. Refrain from killing them!
Where Can You Find Sweat Bees?
The truth is that sweat bees live in most parts of the world. There are around a thousand species only in North America, so there are probably a couple native to your region.
Most sweat bees are solitary and would burrow underground. However, some species are colonial and find shelter in cracks of wooden porches and decks (as we mentioned in the previous section).
That means locating their homes might be more challenging than it is for traditional honey bees. Also, you won’t be able to relocate them by moving their hives!
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